Abstract: An arrangement to maintain alignment of a moving conveyor belt. The arrangement includes a sensing assembly arranged for sensing a position or movement of a portion or region of the belt, and an actuator assembly having one or more actuator modules operable so as to adjust or modify a position, alignment, or orientation of a portion or region of a support assembly in order to counter and/or correct an alignment of the belt based on, at least in part, the sensed position or movement of the belt.

Abstract: A conveyor guide unit for use in an elevator of a sugarcane harvester comprises a housing, an axle positioned in and supported by the housing, and a rotor mounted to the axle for rotation about a rotation axis and configured to interface with a conveyor of the elevator. The axle and the rotor mounted thereto are selectively repositionable axially along the rotation axis relative to the housing for lateral adjustment of the rotor relative to the conveyor.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments described herein are directed to conveyor belt tracking mechanisms with a single adjusting element and to conveyors having conveyor belts whose tracking may be adjusted in both directions using such conveyor belt tracking mechanisms. One exemplary conveyor belt tracking mechanism embodiment employs a pulley support yoke coupled to a specialized angular linkage having a linkage flexure pivot that translates linear motion into angular motion.

Abstract: A belt meandering preventing device includes a belt displacement detection unit detecting the amount of displacement in a belt width direction of an endless belt rotatably stretched over support parts; and a belt meandering correction unit correcting the displacement in the belt width direction of the endless belt based on the amount of displacement detected by the belt displacement detection unit. The belt displacement detection unit includes a moving part moving in association with the displacement of the endless belt or an edge of the endless belt in the belt width direction and optical sensors outputting signals with output levels corresponding to the proportions of the moving part in optical paths of the optical sensors. The optical sensors are arranged such that the output levels of the optical sensors change as the endless belt is displaced in the belt width direction in a predetermined high-resolution detection range.

Abstract: An endless belt member is suspended in a tensioned manner by a plurality of roller members including a drive roller and a drive motor drives the drive roller member so as to move the belt member in a predetermined direction of travel. A detecting unit detects an amount of displacement of the belt member in a widthwise direction of the belt member, and a correction unit that corrects displacement of the belt member in the widthwise direction. The correction unit corrects the displacement of the belt member in a widthwise direction based on data sampled by the detecting unit every time a drive signal is input to the drive motor a prescribed number of times.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for tensioning belts or chains that may include a fixed support; a moving element that may move relative to the fixed support and designed to be in contact with the belt or the chain; and an actuator designed to exert a permanent tensioning force between the mobile equipment and the fixed support. The device may also include a sensor unit to monitor parameters of angular displacement of the moving element relative to the fixed support.

Abstract: In an aspect of the present invention, a system and method are provided that detect belt mis-tracking and in response, automatically adjusts. In some implementations, the system and method are implemented in conjunction with a weigh feeder or weigh belt. In other implementations, the system and method are implemented in conjunction with other devices that convey material via one or more belts. The system and method can be implemented by providing one or more sensors that detect belt mis-tracking, a motor for adjusting a belt pulley and one or more controllers that operate the motor in response to signals from the one or more sensors.

Abstract: A device serves to regulate the tension of a running belt. The belt is deflected on rollers of which one is designed as a force measuring roller and is connected to a displacement sensing device. This roller is provided with at least one force sensor that determines the force applied to the belt. In addition, this roller is position adjustably held by an actuating drive in order to be able to adjust the tension of the belt. The actuating drive is in an operative connection with a regulating device that is influenced by a correction device. This correction device determines the web tension from the force applied to the belt measured by the force sensor and from the position of the force measuring roller, that changes with the position of the tension regulating roller, and transmits this output as an actual value to the regulating device.

Abstract: A conveyor belt includes a plurality of identification transponder chips embedded into the belt at spaced intervals. At least one conductive loop is embedded adjacent to and in electromagnetic coupled relationship with each transponder chip. The chip induces an identification signal into its respective conductor loop that is detected by a detector head and is cross-referenced by control circuitry to a specific loop and location on the belt. A second detector head may be mounted and coupled to the loop to monitor loop integrity by detecting or failing to detect the responsive identification signal from each transducer. Embedded transducer elements may further be utilized for wear rate monitoring and identification of exact locations in the belt.

Abstract: A lateral sensor positioned proximate to at least one of the edges of a conveyor belt continually monitors the position of the edge of the conveyor belt. If lateral movement is detected by the lateral sensor, an adjustment motor rotates to move an end of a non-drive pulley to adjust for the lateral movement. The lateral sensor can be a non-contacting inductive proximity sensor, a proportional sensor such as a linear variable displacement transducer or a linear potentiometer which determines if the edge of the conveyor belt has moved laterally by monitoring the resistance in the spring, or a Hall effect sensor.

Abstract: A device for adjusting the lateral position of an endless belt comprises a sensor for detecting the lateral position of the endless belt relative to a predetermined position, a roller disposed adjacent to the endless belt, and a controller operatively connected to the sensor and to the roller by way of an air bellows, wherein the controller will automatically cause the air bellows to move the roller to urge the endless belt toward the predetermined positioned when the sensor detects that the lateral position of the endless belt is away from the predetermined position.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting wear and the beginning of the mechanism of belt failure. A sensor (5) detects when a self tracking drive belt (1) tracks off center due to the asymmetrical wear (3) of the belt (1). The sensor (5) may be a simple mechanical or optical switch which is activated upon contact or a complex system which can detect the relative movement of the belt (1) when the belt (1) tracks to either side of the pulley (4). An audible or electrical signal indicates that the belt (1) needs to be changed.

Abstract: A conveyor belt (10) contains at least one integrated circuit transponder (30) which, upon interrogation by an external radio signal, transmits identification information in digitally encoded form. The transponder (30) has a generally planar, circular antenna (36A) surrounding a printed circuit board to which an integrated circuit is attached. The transponder may be encased in a rigid epoxy material to protect the structure from damage during use. Transponders placed adjacent splices (60, 62, 64) in a splice segment provide non-contact means of locating and monitoring the repair.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the lateral tracking movement of a wide abrasive belt that utilizes a driven contact roller and an idler roller that is mounted in a cradle that allows it to pivot about an axis perpendicular to the rotational axis of the idler roller and the non-abrasive back of the belt itself as it rides on an angled sensor. This sensor is angled such that the belt path becomes longer as the belt creeps and since the belt is unable to stretch it applys a force to the angled sensor which responds by increasing that force with a lever arm and continually adjusting the tracking mechanism through a connection to the pivoting cradle. These adjustments result in correct belt tracking.

Abstract: A pulley has evenly spaced grooves. A belt is formed with evenly spaced teeth which mesh with the grooves on the pulley. A device senses deformation of the belt resulting from damage to at least one of the teeth on the belt. The device may sense an opening between the belt and the pulley which results from breakage of at least one of the teeth on the belt. When such displacement or an opening is detected, an indicator lamp is lit to report that the belt should be replaced.

Abstract: A slip sensing mechanism for a multilink or articulated belt drive includes a flexible arm on which is disposed a roller maintained in abutment with the belt. The flexible arm has formed integrally therewith or otherwise secured thereto a strain gauge which will provide a measurement proportional to the deflection of the arm. This deflection is indicative of the radius at which the belt is operating relative to a pulley. The roller in abutting the individual link members of the belt causes an oscillating or AC component which is measured by the strain gauge. This AC component is proportional to the speed at which the belt passes thereunder. It is possible by knowing the rotary speed of the pulley and the radius by which the belt is operating to calculate the slip speed, if any, of the belt relative to the pulley by obtaining the difference between the product of pulley speed and belt radius and the product of link width and frequency.

Abstract: An automatic tape ejecting device for a tape rewinding apparatus responsive to an increase of the tension difference between the tight side strand and the slack side strand of the transmission belt which drives the pulley to perform the tape rewinding. The change of tension difference is sensed by at least one small pulley which is arranged in the running path of the transmission belt to increase the tension thereof. The motor is driven in such direction that the tight side strand will be tightened while the slack side strand will slip in the small pulley upon the winding spindle being precluded from rotation, consequently, the increased tension on the tight side strand will initiate the cassette compartment lid ejection action and turn off the switch.

Abstract: A recording system including a recording member of the endless belt form in which a series of information is recorded while the recording member is being moved, deviation sensing means operative to sense a deviation of the recording member, deviation correcting means operative to correct the deviation of the recording member, and a control circuit for actuating the deviation correcting means based on a signal generated by the deviation sensing means upon sensing the deviation.A deviation of the recording member of the endless belt form can be corrected without causing deformation of the recording member, and the recording system can be fabricated simply at low cost.